Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance And Repair - 01500581
06/24/03
Product Life Cycle Environmental Impact and Risk Evaluation
Basic rule for efficient and sustainable resource and
environmental quality management = minimize cumulative
product life cycle risks and environmental impacts. The
product life cycle system defines the material and energy
flows and conversions in the total life cycle of a
product. It can be organized into five basic subsystems
or segments:
1. Raw Materials Procurement
2. Manufacturing
3. Consumer Use
4. Resource Recovery
5. Disposal
The risks and environmental impacts associated with
the product life cycle include:
- virgin raw materials consumption
- energy consumption
- air pollutant emissions
- water pollutant discharges
- hazardous waste generation
- nonhazardous waste generation
- radioactive waste generation
- industrial accidents
- occupational safety and health risks
- consumer safety and health risks
- ecological degradation
The life cycle framework provides a systematic method
to evaluate risks and environmental impacts associated
with the flow and conversion of material and energy
throughout the system. Applications of the product life
cycle framework include: 1) consumer product comparative
risk and environmental impact assessment, 2) product and
process design guidelines to minimize risks and impacts,
3) product labeling and 4) policy making.
Do prices of consumer products reflect true social,
and environmental costs? Two important market failures
that lead to inefficient resource and environmental
quality management are 1) externalities, which are costs
born by society that are not included in the price of a
good or service (e.g., industrial pollution and the
disposal of consumer products); and 2) lack of
information about risks and environmental impacts for the
consumer.
From the "Diaper Dilemma", Michigan Consumer Education
Conference, 1990, presented by Greg A. Keoleian, Research
Fellow in the School of Natural Resources, University of
Michigan.
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State
University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race,
color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability,
political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status.
Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director,
MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI 48824. This information is for educational
purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
This file was generated from data base 02 on 02/04/08.
Data base 02 was last revised on 06/24/03.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
strausc@msu.edu .